Type-writing machine.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908. G. F. STILLMAN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1905.

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PATENTED SEPT. 1, 19.08.

G. F. STILLMAN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1905.

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No. 897,425. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

G. P. STILLMAN. I

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION I'ILED MAR, 9, 1905.

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PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

G. F. STILLMAN.

TYPE WRITING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1905.

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wuwwbov" 1, $4M :11; m3 whoa/14mg) M time when the line lock GEORGE F. STILLMAN, OF SYRACUSE,

NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR TO ALEXANDERT. BROWN, OF

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed March 9, 1905.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Serial No. 249,244.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE F. STILLMAN, citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to typewriting machines and more especially to the line lock mechanism of such machines.

I provide means whereby, in the ordinary operation of the machine, the universal bar may be arrested at different points in its return movement, but at the end of a line it is moved to its extreme return position and locked in that position. By arresting the universal bar short of its extreme return movement and thus leaving lost motion between the keys and said universal bar I lighten the touch on said keys, because the keys do not meet the resistance due to the universal bar and its spring or springs until the other parts operated by keys have been set in motion, and by varying the point at which the universal bar is arrested I am able to vary the touch on the keys. At the same comes into operation the universal bar is automatically moved to its extreme return position and locked there so that the keys are locked against more than a slight motion.

One embodiment of my invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the machine taken on a plane extending from front to rear thereof. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of parts of my mechanism as seen from above, a shaft being shown in section and the parts being shown in different positions in the two views. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail top views, the parts in the two views being shown in positions corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 respectively. Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but with some of the parts sectioned away. Fig. 9 is a view in section on the line xx of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a view in section on the line g 2 of Fig. 7. Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are similar detail views taken on an irregular section and showing the stop for the universal bar in the different positions to which it may be adjusted and also showing the escape ment mechanism in the corresponding positions. Figs. 14, and

16 are views similar to one another and illustrating the relative positions of the universal bar and the key operated rock shafts corresponding to Figs. 11, 12 and 13 respectively.

Broadly speaking, my invention is appli cable to any form of typewriting machine. It is here illustrated as applied to an ordinary Smith Premier typewriter. The main frame of this machine comprises a base portion 1, from which rise standards 2, which support a top ring or plate 3 on which are mounted rails 4, along which moves a carriage 5, which supports the platen 6. actuate rock shafts 8, which are journaled in the framework and are returned to normal position by springs 9. Arms 10 on said rock shafts are connected with links 11,-by which they actuate the type bars 12 in the manner usual in the Smith Premier machine. The universal bar 13 has the form of a'grid or gate as usual, and it is supported by arms 14 vertically disposed and each pivoted at one end to the universal bar and at the other to the framework. The universal bar is moved in one direction transversely of the machine by arms 15 projecting from the rock shafts 8, and it is returned by a spring 16 secured at one end to the universal bar and at the other end to the framework.

The carriage is drawn toward the left by a band or cord 17 which runs over a spring drum 18, mounted on one of the standards 2'. A bar 19, mounted on the carriage, has a rack 20 formed on its under side, and said rack meshes with a pinion 21 fixed to one end of a shaft, which is journaled in a fixed housing 22. An escapement wheel 23 is mounted on said shaft and cooperates with a pair of feed dogs 24 and 25, which are mounted on the upper end of a rock shaft 26. This rock shaft is journaled near its upper end in the top plate or in a frame piece secured thereto, and at its lower end in the base portion 1 of the main frame. An arm 27 projecting from said rock shaft works in a slot in a plate 28, secured to the universal bar 13. The con struction is such that the universal bar, through this connection 27, 28, controls the rock shaft 26 and the feed dogs 24 and 25.

The return motion of the universal bar is limited by an adjustable stop 29, which is engaged by a lug 30 projecting from said universal bar. As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the stop 29 is in the form of a plate The keys 7 mounted upon the back plate of the base portion 1 of the main frame to which it is connected by a headed and shouldered screw 31, which passes loosely through a slot 32 in the plate 29 and is threaded into the frame piece -1. As will be perceived by reference to Figs. 3 and 4, means are provided -where by the plate 29 may be swung about the screw 31 as a pivot, into and out of the path of the lug 30. As will be perceived by reference to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, means are also provided for adjusting the plate 29 longitudinally to regulate the point at which the universal bar is arrested in its return movement, this adjustment being permitted by the elongated slot 32.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 10, the frame piece 1 is formed with a semi cylindrical projection 33, in an opening in which is seated and journaled a sleeve 34, which is formed at its upper'end with an eccentric portion 35 which works in a slot 36 in the plate 29.

.The longitudinal adjustment of the plate 29 is effected by this eccentric. The means for turning the sleeve 34 to effect this adjustment consists of a handle or milled head 37 (Figs. 2 and 10), which is mounted on a headed screw 38, threaded into the sleeve 34 and extending outward through a slot 39 '(Fig. 2) formed in the semi-cylindrical projection 33. The milled head 37 is chambered out at its outer end, and a spring 40 is compressed between the head of the screw 38 and the bottom of the chambered portion of the milled head 37 and tends to press the milled head toward the projection 33. In order to retain the sleeve 34 in any position to which it may be set, the milled head 37 is made conical at its inner end and is pressed by the spring 40 into one of a series of conical depressions 41 (Fig. 2), formed in the semicylindrical projection 33, three such depressions being shown in the present instance. The milled head may be withdrawn against the tension of the spring 40 and be set into any one of these three depressions.

The three positions of the handle 37 and the connected parts are shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 1 3, respectively ;Fig. 11, showing the position when the universal bar is permitted to move to its extreme return position; Fig. 12, when the universal bar is arrested before reaching its extreme return position, and Fig. 13, showing the universal bar arrested still earlier in its return movement. These three figures of the drawing may be more readily understood by reference to the line 43, which is drawn through the end of the stop 29 in Fig. 11 and through the corresponding points in the other figures. When the universal bar is thus arrested in different positions, the feed dogs are also arrested in different positions, as shown. In the figures of the drawing above referred to, one tooth of the escapement'wheel 23 is shown in seethe universal bar.

key is shown in full lines at the point in its depression at which the arm 15 of the rock shaft 8 connected to that key, first engages The entire stroke of the key is from the u per dotted line position to the lower dottet line position. It will be seen that when the stop 29 is adjusted, as shown in Fig. 11, the key begins to move the universal bar almost immediately upon the beginning of its stroke; when the stop 29 oocupies the position shown in Fig. 12, the key begins to move the universal bar at about the middle of its stroke; and when the stop 29 is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 13, the key does not begin to move the universal bar until after it has passed the middle of its stroke. The effect of adjusting the stop 29 to the positions shown in Figs. 12 and'13 is to leave a certain amount of lost motion be v tween the keys and the universal bar and, of course, to shorten the motion of the universal bar and of the escapement dogs at each operation of the key. The moving of the universalbar and of the feed dogs thus throws less work on the keys the further the stop 29 is adjusted away from the position shown in Fig. 11, and this work does not begin until the key has already overcome the inertia of the type bar; so that when the arm 15 engages the universal bar, the key has the already acquired momentum of the type bar andthe other parts to assist it in setting the universal bar in motion. The touch of the keys is greatly improved in this way.

The swinging'motion of theplate 29 about the screw 31 as a pivot, is controlled by an arm 44 projecting from and rigidly connected to a vertical rock shaft 45 and having its downwardly bent end 46 (Fig. 9) extending. into a slot 47 in theplate 29. The slot 47 is parallel to the slot 32 and to the universal bar. The shaft 45 is journaled at its lower end in the hollow sleeve 34, as shown in Figs.

9 and 10, and at its upper end in a portion of the framework secured to the ring 3. The shaft 45 extends through the upper frame piece and is held-against longitudinal movement in one direction by a head 48 and in the other by a collar 49 secured to the shaft. The head 48 is slotted and in this slot a lever or arm 50 is pivoted on a horizontal pivot pin 51. The shape of the arm 50 will be understood by comparing Figs. 1 and 2. This arm extends forward from the head 48 and rests in a notch 52 in a flange or web 53 ofthe framework. The free end of the lever is drawn toward the bottom of the notch 52 and toward the right hand end of said notch by a spring 54 connected at one end to the lever 50 and at the other to the flange 53 (Figs. 2 and 5). A margin stop piece 55 and a line stop piece 56 are mounted on the bar 19 so as to be adjustable to any desired position along said bar. As shown in the present instance, these stop pieces are mounted on the bar 19 dovetail fashion, and any suitable mcans may be provided for securing them in their adjusted positions. The margin stop piece 55 has projecting from the rear side thereof, a margin stop 57 having one abrupt and one beveled face. When the carriage is drawn to the right the stop 57 will engage the arm 50 and arrest the carriage, but if it be desired to write in the margin, the arm 50 may be raised by grasping a forwardly extending handle portion 58 thereof (Fig. 1) and moving it about its pivot 51 against the tension of the spring 54. As the carriage is then fed to the left the beveled face of the stop 57 will raise the arm 50 and said arm therefore, will notinterfere with the feed of the carriage. When the stop 57 has passed the arm 50, said arm will snap behind it under the impulse of the spring 54.

The line stop piece 56 has projecting from the rear side thereof, a line stop 59 which is similar to the margin stop 57 except that the abrupt and beveled faces are reversed. When the stop 59 engages the arm 50, it will move said arm against the tension of the spring 54 until it is arrested by the end of the notch 52. This will rock the shaft 45 and move the arm 44 toward the rear of the machine and swing the plate 29 into the position shown in Figs. 4 and 8, with its end out of the path of the lug 30. It will thus be seen that at the end of a line, the stop 29 is moved out of the path of the lug 30, no matter which of its three positions it may have been adjusted to by the handle 37; and the universal bar 13 will then be moved to its extreme return position by the spring 16.

A latch 60 is mounted on the shaft 45 and is formed with a hooked end which is thrown in behind the lug 30 to lock the universal bar against motion when the shaft 45 is rocked at the end of a line. The latch arm 60 is of such length as to lock the universal bar in its extreme return position. It will be obvious, therefore, that if the plate 29 is adjusted to either of the positions shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the lug 30 will be held in such a position that the end of the latch cannot drop behind it until after the plate 29 has been swung away from it. For this reason the arm 60 is not secured directly to the shaft 45, but is secured to a sleeve 61 which loosely surrounds said shaft just above the plate 29. Within the sleeve 61, the shaft 45 is reduced (Fig. 10), and about the reduced portion thereof is coiled a spring 62, which is secured at one end to the shaft 45 and at the other end projects through a slot 63 in the sleeve 61. The tension of this spring tends to move the latch arm 60 toward the front of the machine and into the position in which it looks the lug 30. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a pin 64 projects from the shaft 45 through a transverse slot 65 in the sleeve 61. When the parts stand in the position shown in Figs. 3, the spring 62 presses the pin 64 against one end of the slot 65 and the pin thus prevents the arm 60 from moving further toward the lug 30. When the shaft 45 is rocked at the end of a line, the arm 60 is also rocked until the hooksha ed end thereof engages the rear face of the ug 30, after which the arm 45 may continue to turn, the pin 64 moving freely in the slot 65. When the arm 29 is disengaged from the lug 30 by this motion of the shaft 45, the universal bar snaps back to its extreme return position under the impulse of the spring 16, and the latch 60 snaps behind the lug 30 under the impulse of the s ring 62. When the carriage is drawn bac toward the right, or when the arm 50 is raised and allowed to escape from the stop 59, the shaft 45 is rocked back toward its normal position under the impulse of the spring 54, and the latch 60 is thus withdrawn from behind the lug 30. After this, the first key that is depressed moves the universal bar toward the right and the stop 29 drops to its normal position in the path of the lug 30.

It will be perceived that the stop 29 is adjustable to arrest the universal bar at different points in its return motion and that when the line lock mechanism is brought into operation, the universal bar is moved to an invariable position, that is to say, to its extreme return position where it is locked by the latch 60.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of keys an escapement mechanism; a universal bar actuated by said keys and operating said escapement mechanism; an adjustable stop for arresting said universal bar at different points in its return motion means for moving said stop out of the path of said universal bar; and a line lock device coacting directly with said universal bar in its extreme return position.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a universal bar; a slotted endwise movable bar coacting with said-universal bar to limit the return motion thereof; an eccentric engaging in said slot and moving said bar endwise; and keys coacting with said universal bar.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with keys and type mechanism operated thereby, of a universal bar; an adjustable stop cooperating directly with said universal bar; and a line lock mechanism connected to said stop to move the same out of the path of the universal bar and to lock said universal bar.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of keys; a universal bar actuated from said keys; a carriage; carriage feed mechanism; a shaft; connections whereby said carriage, at a determined point, actuates said shaft; a stop for arresting said universal bar on its return motion; connections whereby said shaft moves said stop out of working position; and a line lock dog operated by said shaft and coacting with said universal bar.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of keys; a universal bar actuated from said keys; a'carriage; carriage feed mechanism; a shaft; connections whereby said carriage, at a determined point, actuates said shaft; an adjustable stop for arresting said universal bar on its return motion; connections whereby said shaft moves said stop out of working position; and

a line-lock dog operated by said shaft and coacting with said universal bar.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of keys; a universal bar; a movable stop acting directly on said universal bar for arresting said universal bar before it reaches the end of its full return motion; line lock mechanism coacting with said universal bar; and connections whereby said line lock mechanism moves said step out of working position before engaging with said universal bar.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shaft, an eccentric loose thereon, a slotted stop bar or lever on the eccentric and having endwise and pivot-motion, a universal bar whose return motion is regulated by said step bar, an arm on said shaft engaging with said stop bar to swing the same out of the path of said universal bar, a

dog connected to said shaft and adapted to engage with said universal bar to lock the same against motion, and key actuated type mechanism whose operation is prevented when the universal bar is locked.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an endwise movable gate, key-open ated. rock shafts and arms for. moving said gate, a movable stop for limiting the return motion of said gate to less than the full throw, and a line lock connected to said stop to move the same out of working position and itself engaging said gate as the same reaches its full throw, with type bars actuated by said rock shafts.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a vertical shaft; a carriage, and means whereby the carriage turns said shaft on reaching a predetermined point; a laterally movable gate; rock shafts; type bars;

a stop movable into and out of position for limiting the return motion of said gate to less than the full amount; an arm on said shaft for moving said stop out of Working position; and a gate-holding dog actuated by said shaft.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a vertical shaft a carriage, and means whereby the carriage turns said shaft on reaching a given position; a laterally movable gate; rock shafts and type bars; a stop movable into and out of position for limitingthe return motion of said gate; a cam for moving said stop to vary the point at which it arrests said gate; an arm on said shaft for moving said stop to a non-working position; and a gate-holding dog actuated by said shaft.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an upright shaft; a carriage; means whereby saidcarriage, at a givenpoint, turns said shaft; a laterally movable gate, rock shafts; type bars; an eccentric loose on said shaft; an arm for turning said eccentric; a slotted stop bar controlled by said eccentric and arranged to coact with said gate to stop the return motion thereof, said stop bar having a sliding connection with a fixed guide-pin; an arm on said shaft engaging with said stop bar to move the same out of working position; and a gateholding dog connected to and operated by said shaft and engaging with said gate when said step bar has been moved aside.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shaft, a carriage, and means whereby the carriage, at a given point, turns said shaft; a key actuated universal bar; a stop for arresting said universal bar before the same reaches the limit of its return motion, said stop being movable out of working position; means whereby said shaftmoves said stop out of working position; and

a holding dog for said universal bar yieldingly connected with said shaft and engaging with said gate as the latter reaches the limit of its full return motion.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rock shaft; a sleeve loose on and having a limited rotary motion relatively to said shaft; a spring holding said sleeve at one limit of its motion; a universal bar; a movable stop for arresting the return motion of said universal bar before it reaches the limit of that motion; an arm on said shaft for moving said stop out of its working position; and a latch for said universal bar rigid with said sleeve.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an upright line locking shaft; a universal bar; a locking dog for said universal bar yieldingly connected to said shaft; an eccentric loose on said shaft and adjustable to a number of positions relatively thereto; a stop bar moved by said eccentric and having a r'ulcrurn and acting as a stop to arrest the return motion of the universal bar at different points; and a crank connecting the shaft and the stop bar and swinging the latter into and out of operative position.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a line stop; a universal bar; a stop directly engageable With and opera- 10 tive positively to arrest said universal bar in its return motion, the latter stop being controlled by said line stop, and a line lock cooperating with the un'versal bar.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York.

GEO. F. STILLMANA Witnesses:

KAREU VON KLosTER, J. ALLENA KANKA. 

